Plate carrying tray made for waiters that attaches to the forearm

ABSTRACT

A forearm tray for carrying heated objects. The forearm tray has a wrist notch dimensioned and adapted so that when strapped to a forearm of a user, the wearer can bend their wrist and hand upward as normal. The forearm tray may have a non-slip platform for balancing the heated objects. Between the platform and the forearm of the user is a baseplate so that the heat of the heated objects can not burn or hurt the wearer. The forearm tray may be removably strapped to the forearm so that when not in use, the present invention can be conveniently stored in a waiter&#39;s apron pocket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/938,671 filed 21 Nov. 2019, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to serving trays and, more particularly, a plate carrying tray made for waiters that attaches to the forearm.

Waiters or other food servers need to carry hot, imbalanced plates from kitchen to tables repeatedly throughout each shift in what is frequently a fast-paced, hectic environment. As a result, waiters are still resting plates on their bare arms. Or they are using a hand-held serving tray, which means even when returning from a table, the waiter is holding in their hands a clumsy article, making themselves less handsfree, less approachable and less available to their clientele, to whom being handy, approachable, and available can be very financially beneficial.

As can be seen, there is a need for a plate carrying tray made for waiters that removably attaches to the forearm, giving them a platform to help balance and carry plates with ease, while protecting their hands and arms from getting burnt from heat of the served dishes. The present invention also lessens the likelihood that a customer gets food spilled on them as compared to a waiter handling hot clumsy plates in a fast-paced, hectic environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a tray adapted to removably secure to a forearm of a user, the tray includes the following: a platform having an upper surface and a lower surface; a baseplate upper surface and a lower surface; the lower surface of the platform joined to the upper surface of the baseplate; the baseplate longitudinally extending between a proximal end and a distal end; a wrist notch, wherein a notch edge is set inward of said distal end, and wherein the notch edge is bookended by two opposing protrusions extending to the distal end; a non-slip surface along the upper surface of the platform; and at least one sleeve attached to the lower surface of the baseplate.

In another aspect of the present invention, the baseplate is a non-porous, wherein the baseplate has a first hardness, the platform has a second hardness, and each sleeve has a third hardness, and wherein the first hardness is harder than the second hardness, and wherein the second hardness is harder than the third hardness (hardness measured on a durometer/Schor scale), wherein the notch edge is parallel with the proximal end, wherein the platform is a greater thermal conductor than plasticized materials, wherein the two opposing protrusions are semioval, wherein the platform and the baseplate are coextensive elongated with the platform, wherein the platform has a length greater than a width, and the length is twelve to eighteen inches, and the width is six to nine inches; and each sleeve having a strap therein, each strap adapted to wrap around and secure to said forearm.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method carrying objects on a handsfree tray, the method includes the following: providing the above-mentioned tray; wrapping each strap around and secured to said forearm in such a way that the upper surface of the platform is facing away from said forearm; and placing an object on the upper surface of the platform.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use; and

FIG. 7 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6, shown in use with forearm 34 shown as hidden for charity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a forearm tray for carrying heated objects. The forearm tray has a wrist notch dimensioned and adapted so that when strapped to a forearm of a user, the wearer can bend their wrist and hand upward as normal. The forearm tray may have a non-slip platform for balancing the heated objects. Between the platform and the forearm of the user is a baseplate so that the heat of the heated objects can not burn or hurt the wearer. The forearm tray may be removably strapped to the forearm so that when not in use, the present invention can be conveniently stored in a waiter's apron pocket.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 7, the present invention may include a forearm tray 100. The forearm tray 100 may have a platform 10 joined to baseplate 14. Both the platform 10 and the baseplate may be generally planar, each having a length greater than its width, with a generally uniform thickness substantially less than either the respective length or the width. The platform 10 and the baseplate 14 may generally coextensive and may be joined along comparable surfaces by adhesive or other joining methods.

In some embodiments, the platform 10 may be a ⅛-inch thick non-porous, non-slip material such a neoprene, rubber, or various plasticized materials. The baseplate 14 may be a non-porous plasticized material just as thick as the platform, with a greater hardness (e.g., Shore hardness) that that the platform 10, which may be more elastic and forgiving. Both the platform 10 and the base 14 may be colored black. The platform 10 may have a length of twelve to eighteen inches, and a width ranging from six to nine inches.

Both the platform 10 and the baseplate 14 may have a wrist notch 12 and 16, respectively. The wrist notches 12 and 16 may be defined by a notch edge 50 bookended by opposing semioval protrusions 52 protruding from the notch edge 50 away from the platform/baseplate. The notch edge 50 may be straight (and parallel with an opposing edge) as it extends between the opposing semioval protrusions 52.

Along a bottom surface of the baseplate 14 may be two spaced apart sleeves 18 and 20. The material of each sleeve 18 and 20 may be a soft, durable material. Each sleeve 18 or 20 may define an open-ended cavity through which a first strap 22 or a second strap 26 may slide through. Each strap 22 and 26 may extend between a male end 24 and 28, respectively, and a female end 30 and 32, respectively. The male and female ends are adapted to removably lock; in some embodiments, the female ends 30 and 32 may be, but not limited to, buckles or other fasteners, while the male ends 24 and 28 may be thickened tips or other elements dimensioned and adapted to removably engage with the fasteners/buckles/female ends 30 and 32.

Thereby, a user may slide the straps 22 and 26 through the sleeves 18 and 20, and wrap the straps 22 and 26 about the user's forearm 34 so that the platform 10 may be removably secured to said forearm 34 in an operable state, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The operable state may be defined with the harder baseplate 14 along an inner portion of the forearm 34 (generally coplanar thereto), with the non-slip platform 10 upward-facing. In the operable state, the sleeves 18 and 30 made of cushion-like material act as cushions along the user's forearms 34, which may be bearing the weight of heavy, plated food products.

One or both of the platform 10 and the baseplate 14 may be made of materials that are poor thermal conductors, and so heat associated with the plates 36 of food on the platform 10 will not be felt through the baseplate 14 by the skin of the forearm 14.

The forearm tray 100 is dimensioned to be able to, when not in use, be stored in a pocket of a waiter's apron. When in use the forearm tray 100 slides onto a server's forearm 34, and then is secured by way of the straps 22 and 26 and end fasteners. Then the user ensures the platform 10 in the operable state in such a way that plates 36 and other dishes can be balanced thereon.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tray adapted to removably secure to a forearm of a user, the tray comprising: a platform having an upper surface and a lower surface; a baseplate upper surface and a lower surface; the lower surface of the platform joined to the upper surface of the base plate; the baseplate longitudinally extending between a proximal end and a distal end; a wrist notch, wherein a notch edge is set inward of said distal end, and wherein the notch edge is bookended by two opposing protrusions extending to the distal end; a non-slip surface along the upper surface of the platform; and at least one sleeve attached to the lower surface of the baseplate.
 2. The tray of claim 1, wherein the baseplate is a non-porous.
 3. The tray of claim 2, wherein the baseplate has a first hardness, the platform has a second hardness, and each sleeve has a third hardness, and wherein the first hardness is harder than the second hardness, and wherein the second hardness is harder than the third hardness.
 4. The tray of claim 3, wherein the notch edge is parallel with the proximal end.
 5. The tray of claim 4, wherein the platform is a greater thermal conductor than plasticized materials.
 6. The tray of claim 5, wherein the two opposing protrusions are semioval.
 7. The tray of claim 6, wherein the platform and the baseplate are coextensive elongated with the platform.
 8. The tray of claim 7, wherein the platform has a length greater than a width, and the length is twelve to eighteen inches, and the width is six to nine inches.
 9. The tray of claim 8, further comprising each sleeve having a strap therein, each strap adapted to wrap around and secure to said forearm.
 10. A method carrying objects on a handsfree tray, the method comprising: providing the tray of claim 9; wrapping each strap around and secured to said forearm in such a way that the upper surface of the platform is facing away from said forearm; and placing an object on the upper surface of the platform. 